Friday November 4, 2011
What is SOM?
Some of you are probably wondering what SOM is and why are people so excited about it? Well, let me tell you… SOM(School of Ministry) is a 9 month Discipleship course that develops, empowers and equips individuals for leadership. SOM is designed to change your life and allow you to live out your dream while finding out who you are in Christ. It is about giving people opportunities to enables themselves to live Holy Spirit filled lives so that they may win and lead others to Christ. Most of all it helps you grow, learn and listen so that you can fully understand God’s love for you and the amazing opportunities He has for you.
For 9 months 9 individuals have laid down their lives and are sacrificing time, energy, money, work, family time and personal lives, all to grow closer to God and what God has called us to do. 10 weeks ago we walked into class as friends, classmates, or acquaintances but through SOM and the SOM Journey we all became FAMILY. On the Journey we learned how to trust and open up to one another, the meaning of having a brother/sister to our left and to our right, and one of Ps Jim’s favorite sayings, “you step alone, but you never walk alone.”
Over the next 6 months these pages will be filled by us, the SOM class of 2012, sharing what we have learned, struggled with, our funny times and possibly even our tears as we start to walk out our revelations, not only for ourselves but for each other. In just 10 weeks our lives and hearts have been transformed and changed…can’t wait to see where we all are in May!
From Welletta, Lily, Drew, Josh, JoAnna, Kory, Gina, Jackson, & Laura Jane…the SOM class of 2012, we thank you for taking the time to read our words and our hearts. SOM…we are ONE!
WS
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Monday November 7, 2011
SOM is hard. There’s no rule book or strategy guide to get you through it. Everyone keeps saying that it’s like a family and that it really binds you to your classmates, but they never really elaborate on that nice fuzzy sentiment. At least in your house you get your own room to storm off into and close the door so you can crank music or plot against whichever sibling pissed you off. Imagine living in a house where you all eat, sleep, and just live in the same room. Every moment is seen by a room full of people that see you at your best and your absolute worst.
We start out with the Journey, where we all get frustrated and gang up together against a cocky pastor and his Jeep Wrangler. We band together to try and accomplish the tasks and challenges that he puts before us. It’s all great opportunity for growth, but it’s only the tiniest of first steps. In the classroom you actually start to get frustrated at each other. You get to a point where you can’t just play polite and be respectful all the time, so you scream and fight with one another. The saving grace is that you still can’t GO anywhere! No matter the drama, and no matter the issue, you are forced to resolve it. You get pushed over the edge and have your true colors come out, and then you are stuck in the aftermath. Your class still accepts and loves you, even though you had your little childish moment. And then you turn around and do the same for everyone else when their patience is tested and their lives are on the line. You become comfortable expressing your thoughts openly. You learn to love those little imperfections in everyone. And the people that drive you up the wall day after day are the same ones that you can’t help but miss when they miss a day of school.
There is no hiding in SOM. If you even try it, your toast. Nobody wants to live with a person that keeps their problems in the closet. You want to live with imperfect humans that will show you their hearts, no matter how stupid and childish they look. I’m a straight up 7 year old at heart. My brain is packed full of information and wisdom, but my heart is still just a moody, curious, scared little kid. But I’ll take that little kid’s love for God over my 21 year olds over-analyzing, judgmental brain any day. We’re learning about character, love, acceptance, money, and relationships. And we’re given the opportunity to let it all be more than just factual information, but to really let it sink into our lives and change us.
One quarter down, only three more to go!!
-Kory
